Ep 39. Not in My Backyard

Not in My Backyard is the thirty-ninth episode of the third season of the Australian police procedural drama television series Blue Heelers. As usual, this episode is set in Mount Thomas, a fictitious rural town in Victoria, Australia, where the Blue Heelers, a group of police officers, serve and protect the community.

In this episode, the Blue Heelers are investigating a case of illegal drug trafficking that has been going on in the town for a while. As usual, Sergeant Tom Croydon (John Wood) is leading the investigation, and he is determined to catch the criminals behind the drug trade. However, the case takes an unexpected turn when it leads them to a prominent businessman in the town, who is also a member of the local council.

The episode opens with a local farmer, Doug Peters (Tony Briggs), who has found a bag of cannabis plants on his property. He immediately reports it to the police, and Tom and his team are dispatched to investigate. They find a large marijuana plantation hidden deep in the bush, and they suspect that it belongs to a group of drug dealers who have been operating in the area. Tom orders his team to set up a surveillance operation to catch the criminals in the act.

Meanwhile, the local council is debating a proposal to build a new shopping center in the town. The proposal is being spearheaded by councilor Frank Wilson (Peter Gow), who is also a successful local businessman. Frank is very popular in the town, and he has been using his influence to push his proposal through the council. However, not everyone is happy about it, especially the residents who live near the proposed site. They are worried about the impact that the shopping center will have on their neighborhood, and they have been vocal in their opposition.

As the investigation continues, Tom and his team uncover evidence that suggests that the drug trade is being run by someone within the town council. They suspect that Frank is involved, but they have no concrete proof. Meanwhile, Frank's proposal for the shopping center is causing tension in the community, and the residents are becoming more and more vocal in their opposition. Frank is becoming increasingly frustrated with their resistance and is determined to push his proposal through at any cost.

The investigation reaches a climax when Tom and his team catch the drug dealers in the act. They discover that one of them is Frank's son, Simon (David Hoflin), who has been running the drug trade with his friends. Frank is devastated when he finds out about his son's involvement and is forced to resign from the council. The residents of Mount Thomas are relieved when the proposal for the shopping center is scrapped, and they praise the Blue Heelers for their work in protecting their community.

Overall, Not in My Backyard is an engaging episode of Blue Heelers that deals with topical issues such as drug trafficking and urban development. The episode is well-written, and the acting is excellent, especially by John Wood, who delivers a convincing performance as the dedicated and determined Sergeant Tom Croydon. The episode also explores the relationship between the police force and the community they serve, highlighting the important role that they play in keeping their town safe.